End of road for McGuinty

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty doesn’t know what he will be doing in the future, but said he’s proud of his achievements over the past nine years.

McGuinty was at Toyota in Cambridge Wednesday for the official announcement of $16.9 million in funding to help retool and retrain workers who will be building hybrid Lexus SUVs. It was his last press conference as premier.

Prime Minster Stephen Harper congratulated McGuinty, “on concluding a long period of public service to the people of Ontario”.

Harper said he hopes to “continue the existing working relationship with the new premier”. Despite differing political stripes, Harper said elected officials have a lot of shared common challenges, opportunities and limitations.

“I think you’ve shown over the last several years that governments work best when we work together,” he said.

Toyota chair Ray Tanguay thanked McGuinty for his work in supporting the auto industry and helping to ensure it remains strong.

McGuinty said he is not upset about the way his tenure as premier is ending. Instead he reflected on his achievements.

As for what he plans to do after stepping down, “I don’t know what I will be doing next, but I want to find some way of making a difference,” he said.

Asked what his legacy will be, the premier said he will let others worry about that.